But the day before, Darwen maintained second spot in the Northern Premier League with a crushing six wicket win over Kendal.

Batting first the Cumbrians had progressed slowly to 57-1 but dramatically lost their remaining nine wickets for only 39 runs with Birch Hall teenager Jamie Nicol taking 4-8 runs in a sensational six over spell including the prize wicket of Terry Hunte who top scored with 38.

Darwen recovered from the first ball loss of Horsfield to Kendal pro Veenstra with a fine stand of 68 between Mark Hadfield (21) and professional Keith Semple who was again in majestic form hitting eight fours and two sixes in an unbeaten 58 as Darwen cantered to victory in only 25 overs.

Kendal 0pts, Darwen 12pts

S Cooper lbw Hacking...16

P Barnes b Mercer...2

T Hunte c Mercer b Nicol...38

Veenstra lbw Hacking...0

K Mee lbw Mercer...4

D Fallows c Semple b Nicol...4

A Fawcett lbw Hacking...0

A Potts c Cordingley b Nicol...0

P Wilson c Semple b Nicol...2

M Barrington lbw Semple...2

A Dugdale not out...1

Extras...27

Total...96

Bowling: Semple 10.3-6-8-1; Mercer 11-5-16-2; G Cordingley 6-0-31-0; Hacking 13-5-18-3; Nicol 6-2-8-4.

M Horsfield lbw B Horsfield...0

M Hadfield lbw Mee...21

Semple not out...58

G Cordingley lbw Hunte...0

N Cordingley b Hunte...0

J Cordingley not out...4

Extras...14

Total (4wkts)...97

Bowling: Veenstra 9-1-26-1; Potts 8-3-26-0; Hunte 4.1-1-10-2; Mee 4-1-22-1.